President's Update - November '24

I'D LOVE TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AND YOUR NEW COMMITTEE

Good morning, friends and family, my name's Marc, just recently voted in as President and I wanted to reach out and offer an introduction and a promise. There's a bit to read here as I talk about what I'd like us to achieve in 2025 and introduce some of our committee members, who will aim to create more avenues for you to get the information you need from the club and to connect more with those who were elected. You're as much a part of this club as anyone so your ability to be informed and heard is critical to us heading in the right direction.

Firstly, I wanted to say hello (Hello!) and introduce both myself and the incredible Westies who've put their hands up this year to join our committee and bring hockey to you over summer and through 2024. For those who don't know me, I've been at the club longer than I care to admit, playing, coaching, umpiring, running social events and social media, making videos and doing various jobs on the committee on top of a flurry of other things around the club. You've probably seen me around and if we haven't met yet, I'd love for you to come say hi!

Before I introduce my friends and counterparts on the committee this year, I wanted to make you this promise. It's my intention this year to work in the background of the club tweaking, amending and improving some of the fundamental issues I've heard about over my time, with the intention of shifting the energy, backing, guidance, celebration and sense of community we have at the club to ensure you all feel more heard, understood, supported and to give you a sense of belonging. I love my hockey and I know we all have different reasons for being here - whether you'd like to make a representative team of some description, want to feel the social side of a community, want to see you children or grandchildren safe and happy, want to try your hand at umpiring or want to give back though coaching, managing or any of the other multitude of ways you feel you can help. Each of our journeys is different, but none are more important that another, so (as much as I can) I'd like to understand where each individual fits and help build a community that ensures there's something here for you, no matter what. It's not going to be easy, no doubt, but there are real opportunities to create something great and I think the whole committee is excited to see how far we can grow.

THE COMMITTEE

Vice-President: Cam Curry
If you don't already know Cam (life-member and ex-president), then I don't really know where to start - there's far too much pedigree here to get into, but we're incredibly lucky that he's decided to stay on the committee to bring us his incredible wealth of knowledge! A dictionary of rules and processes, having Cam in the VP role will make my job so much easier and I'm incredibly grateful for the support of such a good friend.

Vice-President: Vic Methven
For those of you who don't know Vic, she's a long-time Westie who's done just about as much Rep stuff as you can do. Currently coaching hockey for a living and casually playing PHL on the side, she's not only a great player, but a person with a huge heart always willing to help out especially with the younger grades. Working as the coaching co-ordinator for the last few years we'd be nowhere without her diligence, knowledge of the game and support.

Secretary: Siobhan Cortesi
The incredible Siobhan came on mid-last year when we suffered a secretary-emergency and had dominated the role ever since. With two kids (both great players), games of her own and a full-time job, she's been instrumental in keeping the committee flowing, fielding member, community and administrative questions and sending out all the important communications you need to hear. We're incredibly lucky to have someone as organised and thoughtful as her on board!

Treasurer: Rose Bainbridge
Speaking of 'lucky to have' Past-President Rose has been in charge of finances for as long as I can remember - organising everything from reports to fees management, funding obligations to financial management. For fun, she also does all the organisation for our Senior Summer Hockey. An amazing resource and wife of long-time comedy act Shane, buy this lady a beer - god knows she deserves it.

Women's Club Captain: Lucy Fuller
Lucy, Premier goalscoring pro and 'Plays of the Week' veteran, has been Women's Club Captain for a few years now and has crushed every minute. She's a natural and is well versed with the Women's side and the importance of a great culture, management and efficiency so the ladies are well looked after. We're so glad she's agreed to stay on in 2025 and I'm excited to implement the plethora of ideas I'm sure she's been itching to discuss.

Men's Club Captain: Brad Grobler
Brad is a man with plans and ambitions not only for himself, but for the club, its growth and the improvement of out up-coming players. No stranger to adversity in the early parts of the season, he always comes out swinging for the fences and you'll often see him volunteering his time at development sessions or on the BBQ. Currently playing for New Zealand at the local Masters tournament, it's amazing to have him back for another year looking after the men.

Youth Club Captain: Sam Rowland
The always vocal Sam, like Brad, has had a soft spot for helping our developing members so you'll also find him working with the Youth Boys as their coach. A Premier staple and someone who's been at the club a great many years now, I was stoked when he agreed to come on as the Youth Club Captain to apply his unique style of communication to the next generation and pick up the mantle after Mary's illustrious career!

Junior Club Captain: Asha Turner
Yet another ex-president, Asha has found her way back to the committee recently with her place running the Junior committee last year. Always one to bring smiles and a sense of fun and excitement to the youth teams she coaches and umpires, you'll recognise her via the costumes she'll consistently adorn whenever there's a Western event on. Asha knows exactly what's required to make things happen here at Western, so I'm eternally grateful she's back.

Social Committee Chair: James Pollock
Did I mention there were ex-presidents in the committee? Not to be left behind, James has amazingly agreed to take on the social role. A man who knows exactly what it takes to run a pub-quiz and the dedication it takes to woo people into the community spirit, he'll be looking for help from all you amazing people to not only fill the seats at the events we run, but also for some help coming up with new ideas and executing everything needed to make an evening explode!

Gear: Kat Lindon
I don't know Kat as well as I'd like, but knowing her daughters, Chloe and Livvy this is a very proud, dedicated and impressive hockey family! Coaxed on board by Vic, Kat has exactly what's needed to fill the Gear role, organising all your jerseys, equipment, outfitting goalkeepers and ensuring we can all wear the crescent ferns with pride!

Cafe Manager: Ruby Wood
Stepping down as Junior Club Captain after countless years in the job, Ruby has kindly committed to continuing to organise and stock the cafe again this year. A seasoned pro at this, she's one of the most fun, inviting people you'll see at the club, never shying away from giving back to the club through her tireless efforts with coaching and managing our upcoming players. For fun, she also plays Premier hockey in goal!

Cafe Organiser: Brian Molloy
Brian Molloy is the dark knight of Western Hockey. Working in the shadows to make sure not only the teams he manages are routinely the first to settle their fees and drive player recruitment into that grade, but more importantly, he organises (more often than not at very short notice) the rostering of the cafe. A thankless but crucial job, he's also incredibly pragmatic, to the point that having his ideas officially in the committee with be a huge boon.

Fundraising: Brad Jones
Finally, new inclusion Brad Jones - ex-junior committee member and lawn bowls extraordinaire! Brad is a finances man, running his own mortgage business and offering to champion our fundraising/grants efforts in 2025. An incredibly important job, without someone as dedicated and knowledgeable as Brad the club getting the financial aid any club needs would be a much more difficult process. Welcome aboard!

If you've made it this far, here's a photo of your Secretary, Siobhan to bring you some happiness and break up the wall of text.

The committee above is an incredible group of people and we're so lucky to have such a diverse and dedicated team. That said, if you're able to help, especially in the areas of fundraising and sponsorship, our ability to run effectively and without pressure could certainly use any willing help!

STRATEGY SESSION

I wanted to highlight a closed strategy session that the committee will be executing over the next few weeks. Through this, it's my hope that we can reframe how we see the club and the relationship to you, our members. Discussions will focus around efficiency, transparency, support, pathways, player and membership growth and all the bits in between to make the club a space you can feel included and where you can make, maintain and grow your hockey, your friendships and relationships. While it's not an open session, we plan to disclose where we're heading and gather some feedback and ideas from you once we're confident we've found our feet.

Through your comments to me before the AGM, there was a real desire to see improvements in some areas from the cafe through the culture and coaching amongst a variety of other things. To that end, I will aim to reach out with updates like this message more often through the year so that you can be kept appraised on what's happening, what's being addressed and what opportunities are on the horizon.

STILL THIS YEAR

Summer hockey is still going for our Senior and Youth teams. We'll be organising and promoting the Academy not to far off and we're also committed to getting you early notice of any big events leading into next year - namely the 5s at the end of Jan/early Feb and trials that will start a little earlier this year to ensure all our teams get the best run up to the season!

So, with all these incredible people, heading in the same direction and tackling the problems they can each identify through their wealth of experience and diverse skill-sets, I'm optimistic that the Western you'll feel through the year, and the Western you'll have this time next year will be more open, inviting, transparent and exciting.

Finally, I would ask that if you ( or anyone you know) is a legend at sponsorship, fundraising or just all round community spirit, please do consider being a part of the committee. It's my goal to try and fill the committee with like-minded but diverse ranges of people to ensure we've got voices for all kinds of groups throughout. Please, if you're a person of action, we'd love to hear from you. Email Siobhan (wdhc.secretary@gmail.com)!

Thanks for making it all this way down - now have an incredible weekend! I look forward to meeting those of you I haven't yet. Here's to an incredible year ahead. 

Sincerely,
Marc